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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. R. TIMBY.

SHIELD A-ND TOWER SYSTEM OF FORTIFVICATIONS. No. 330,639. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

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(No Model.) 4.Sheets-Sheet 2. T. R. TIMBY.

SHIELD AND TOWER SYSTEM OF FORTIFIGATIONS. 310.330.6239.

' Patented Nov. 1'7, 1885.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. R. TI 'MBY.

SHIELD AND TOWER SYSTEM OF PORTIFIGATIONS. No. 330,639. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

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T. R. TIMBY. SHIELD AND TOWER SYSTEM OF FORTIPIOATIONS N0.330,639.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1885.

N. PETERS. Fhclo-Lilhngmpher, Washington. D. c.

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THEODORE R. TIMBY, OF NYACK, NEW YORK.

8HIELD AND TOWER SYSTEM OF FORTlFlCATiONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,639, dated November 17, 1885.

Application filed May 9, 1885. Serial No. 164,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE R. TIMBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in RevolvingTowc-r Fortifications, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to strengthen and protect revolving towers used in my system of coast-defense, so as to reduce to a minimum the chances or possibility of accident or injury.

To these ends I provide the revolving tower with a movable protecting-shield entirely surrounding it. The tower extends above the surrounding shield in the shape of a dome for sighting and directing the firing of guns. The front of the shield is pierced with horizontal slots for firing through, and is re-enforced by additional armor-plating, so that in that part where a shot will strike in a line perpendicular to the surface the shield is much stronger than at otherpoints where shots will strike the surface obliquely. The tower is re-enforced all around in line or on a level with the slots in the shield. In the rear of the surrounding shield, diametrically opposite to the horizontal slots or embrasures through which the guns are pointed and fired, an opening is provided through which an enemys missile which may reach the interior of the shield through the firingslot therein, and pass around in contact with the concave inner surface of the shield, can escape without damage. Deflectors are provided to direct missiles outward through said rear opening, and opposite this rear opening is a mask or shield to prevent the entrance of missiles from the rear.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I isa perspective view of the structure. Fig. II is a plan of the same. Fig. III is a vertical section thereof, and Fig. IV is a horizontal section.

The revolving tower 1 is surmounted by a dome, 2, within which the officer sits to sight the guns, and is completely surrounded by an impregnable shield, 4, above which the sightingdome 2 projects. In the front of the shield are horizontal slots or embrasures 5, which by the movement of the shield are presented in any desired line of fire. The front portion of the shield is lG-GllfOl'CBd by additional plates, 6, so as to render the shield much stronger at this part, which will be presented directly toward the enemy, than at others where shots will be received on a surface oblique to their line of motion. I also surround the tower l with a band or zone of re-enforce plates, 7, on a level with the openings 5 in the shield, so as to render the tower impregnable to shot at the point which is at any time presented behind or opposite the firingopenings 5 in the shield.

At the rear side of the shield, diametrically opposite the firing-openings 5, I provide a discharge slot or opening, 8, through which a missile entering obliquely through the front opening 5 will be discharged after being carried by the deflection of the concave inner surface of the walls of the shield completely around within the shield from the front to the rear on the outside of the tower. I provide deflecting-angles 9 to insure the ejection of the mis silos, as above described, and a mask, 10, to prevent the entrance of missiles through the rear opening, 8.

In my Patent No. 312,230, granted February 10, 1885, I have described a revolvingtower fortification protected by a shield nearly surrounding it, but leaving a narrow opening in the front, through which the face of the tower projects for firing. In my present invention I retire the tower so far within the circle of the movable shield as to admit of extending the shield completely around the tower and pierce the shieldwith horizontal slots for firing through. The great advantages of this improvement consist in that I am enabled to make the front portion of the shield very much stronger and heavier than the main body thereof, so that the whole shield is much reduced in weight, while its efficiency is greatly increased; and, further, that I dispense with the necessity of great strength in the walls of the tower itself, excepting on the level of the horizontal openings in the shield. At this height I can make the wall of the tower itself practically impregnable by massive reenforce bands, as already described, and am thus'enabled to materially reduce the weight of the entire tower It is evident that these advantages are not attainable with the structure shown in my Patent No. 312,230, above referred to.

Having thus described my invention, the

5 following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of the movable shield 4, having slots or openings in the front portion for firing through, and a revolving battery-tower located entirely Within the circle of the shield, so that its front may be completely masked thereby, and having a sighting-dome, 2, projecting above the shield 4, as and for the purposes explained.

2. The combination of the revolving battery-tower 1 a shield, 4, completely surrounding said tower, having horizontal loop-holes 5, and the re-enforcing plates 6, applied to the front portion of the shield around the loopholes 5, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a revolving batterytower, a shield surrounding said tower pierced for firing through, and a re-enforcing band extending around the tower in line with the fir- 25 ing-openings in the shield, substantially as herein set forth."

4. The combination of a revolving batterytower, a protecting-shield surrounding said tower, pierced for firing through and having an opening in the rear for the escape of missiles, and deflecting-plates to direct the escape of missiles outward through said rear opening, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the revolving tower 1, the shield 4,surrounding the same, the opening 8 at the rear of the shield, and the mask 10,placed opposite the said opening to prevent the entrance of missiles, as explained.

6. The combinationof a revolving batterytower, ashield surrounding said tower, pieroed for firing through and having a rear opening, 7

a mask protecting said rear opening, and deflecting-plates for causing the discharge of missiles through the said rear opening, sub stantially as herein set forth.

THEODORE R. TIMBY.

Witnesses:

OOTAVIUS KNIGHT, HARRY E. KNIGHT. 

